Levi sat on the front porch,
watching the movers unload the moving van. He rested his chin on his hands
and sighed, hoping there might be a little boy his age that he could play
with.

His mom Julia stepped onto the porch
and handed him a glass. “Here, drink your milk. Are you going to play?”

Levi shook his head. “No, I’m
watching the neighbors move in.”

She shrugged her shoulders and went
back into the house to start making supper, leaving her son to his
thoughts.

A few minutes later, a mini-van
pulled up. A little boy with red curly hair and chocolate brown eyes
dashed from the van into the house. Levi perked up at the sight. He stared
at their door, curious for another glimpse of the boy. A few minutes
later, he was rewarded for his patience.

The boy opened the door, holding a
black and white checkered ball and bouncing it off his knee. His gaze fell
on Levi, who sat on the porch.

Julia came back out to take the now
empty glass of milk. She saw the little boy across the street. “Why don’t
you go over and make a new friend? You’ll have someone to play with
instead of sitting on this porch all day.”

He shrugged his shoulders and
grumbled. “What do I say to him?”

“He’s playing with a ball. Why don’t
you ask him if you can play a game with him.”

Levi hung his head, afraid to
approach the stranger. “Okay.”

Julia went back into the house
hiding the smirk at her son’s shy behavior.

Levi shuffled his feet as he crossed
the street, stopping a few feet in front the boy. “Hello. My name’s Levi.
What’s your name?”

The boy scuffed the tip of his shoe
on the dewy green grass of his front lawn. “Jonathan. I’m from Scotland.
My family immigrated to America.”

“Do you have any friends?”

Jonathan shook his head. “Our plane
only arrived this morning. My father came to this country earlier and sent
for us once he had a place for us to live.”

Levi smiled. “Want to play?”

Jonathan gave his new friend a shy
smile. “I got this ball for my birthday today. Would you like to play
soccer?”

Levi narrowed his gaze at the ball.
“Never played before.”

“Would you like to learn?” Jonathan
tossed the ball into the air a few times.

“Sure.”

He spent the rest of the afternoon
teaching Levi how to play soccer. Levi’s mother poked her head out from
behind the door, yelling for her son to come to dinner.

Levi handed Jonathan the soccer
ball. “I had fun. Want to play again tomorrow?”

Jonathan accepted the ball and
nodded. “Tomorrow I will teach you to hit the ball with the top of your
head.”

“Sounds fun to me.” Levi turned and
ran into the house, waving good-bye to Jonathan.

The door slammed shut behind Levi as
he walked into the kitchen and joined his parents at the dinner table.

Julia scooped a large spoon of peas
onto his plate. “Did you have fun with your new friend?”

He grimaced as the tiny green balls
rolled around his plate. “Yup. His name is Jonathan and he’s teaching me
how to play soccer. He got this cool soccer ball for his birthday today.”

“Did he have a birthday party?”
Julia ate a mouthful of mashed potatoes.

“No. They flew here today
from Scotland and didn’t have time to have a birthday party.” Levi shoved
his peas to the side and took a bite of the meat-loaf.

“That sounds depressing. I think I
have an idea.” Julia went on to explain while Levi finished his dinner.

“Sounds good to me.” He gulped down
the last of his milk.

“Now eat your peas and then help me
get everything ready for Jonathan’s surprise.” Julia stared at Levi,
making sure he ate every last pea on his plate.

The next afternoon, Levi and Julia
crossed the street and knocked on Jonathan’s door. His mother Kate
answered the knock.

“Hello, my name is Julia and this is
my son Levi.” She patted the top of Levi’s head. “We are your new
neighbors and want to invite you and Jonathan to our house this
afternoon.”

Kate glanced at Jonathan and then
at Julia. “We would like that very much.”

Half an hour later, Jonathan
and Kate were knocking on Levi’s door.

He yanked it opened. “Come on in.”

They followed Levi into the living
room.

“What is all this for?” Jonathan
pointed at the streamers of blue and green hanging from the ceiling.

Levi showed him the cake sitting in
the middle of the table. “It’s a birthday party for you. Since you didn’t
have yesterday, my mom and I wanted to give you one today.”

Jonathan gasped, taken aback by the
gesture. “Thank you.”

Julia served the cake and punch,
taking the time to get to know Kate. Jonathan opened the gift that Levi
gave to him, which was soccer net. When the party was over, Kate and
Jonathan thanked Levi and Julia for the party.

Walking out the door, Jonathan
turned to Levi. “See you tomorrow for another game of soccer?”

Levi grinned. “You bet.” As he
closed the front door, he turned back toward his mother, giving her a hug.

Julia wrapped her arms around him.
She was so proud of her son and he finally had a friend to play with.

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